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Episode 26 - Jingle Bells & Big Emotions: A Foster Parent’s Holiday Survival Guide
The holidays can be magical… and they can also be really hard — especially for kids who carry deep histories, big questions, or painful memories. In this episode, Jason and Whitney get honest (and hilarious) about what it really looks like to navigate Thanksgiving and Christmas with foster and adoptive children.
From unexpected triggers (yes, even turkey and side dishes), to family dynamics, to overstimulation, to kids suddenly melting down in the middle of the “perfect” holiday moment — this episode is packed with real stories, practical strategies, and a whole lot of grace.
Whether you’re a new foster parent, a seasoned adoptive parent, or just someone trying to love kids well during the holidays, this conversation will encourage you, equip you, and remind you: you’re not alone, and you’re doing holy work.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- Why holidays can trigger big emotions in foster and adoptive kids
- How smells, sounds, family traditions, and even snow can bring up unexpected memories
- Real-life stories from our home (including plate-throwing, pajama-dress snow adventures, and our hatred for the elf)
- How to honor your kids’ past traditions while building healthy new ones
- Prepping foster kids — and prepping extended family — for holiday gatherings
- Balancing grace and boundaries
- Practical ways to build in quiet moments when the overstimulation hits
- Gift ideas, coordinating with bio parents, and navigating DCS resources
- Why flexibility over tradition is the motto for surviving the holidays
- How the hope of Jesus reframes the entire season for our families
Practical Tips You’ll Walk Away With:
- How to reduce sensory overload
- Scripts and ideas for preparing kids ahead of time
- Ways to talk to extended family before a holiday gathering
- Trauma-informed gift-giving ideas
- How to create space, margin, and “trauma room” during busy days
- What boundaries matter most — and which traditions can bend
- How to keep Christ at the center of the holiday mess
Connect With Us - We’d love to support you on your foster care or adoption journey!
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast
• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast
• Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow
• Support the show: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support
• Music Credit: "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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By Jason and Whitney SmallThe holidays can be magical… and they can also be really hard — especially for kids who carry deep histories, big questions, or painful memories. In this episode, Jason and Whitney get honest (and hilarious) about what it really looks like to navigate Thanksgiving and Christmas with foster and adoptive children.
From unexpected triggers (yes, even turkey and side dishes), to family dynamics, to overstimulation, to kids suddenly melting down in the middle of the “perfect” holiday moment — this episode is packed with real stories, practical strategies, and a whole lot of grace.
Whether you’re a new foster parent, a seasoned adoptive parent, or just someone trying to love kids well during the holidays, this conversation will encourage you, equip you, and remind you: you’re not alone, and you’re doing holy work.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- Why holidays can trigger big emotions in foster and adoptive kids
- How smells, sounds, family traditions, and even snow can bring up unexpected memories
- Real-life stories from our home (including plate-throwing, pajama-dress snow adventures, and our hatred for the elf)
- How to honor your kids’ past traditions while building healthy new ones
- Prepping foster kids — and prepping extended family — for holiday gatherings
- Balancing grace and boundaries
- Practical ways to build in quiet moments when the overstimulation hits
- Gift ideas, coordinating with bio parents, and navigating DCS resources
- Why flexibility over tradition is the motto for surviving the holidays
- How the hope of Jesus reframes the entire season for our families
Practical Tips You’ll Walk Away With:
- How to reduce sensory overload
- Scripts and ideas for preparing kids ahead of time
- Ways to talk to extended family before a holiday gathering
- Trauma-informed gift-giving ideas
- How to create space, margin, and “trauma room” during busy days
- What boundaries matter most — and which traditions can bend
- How to keep Christ at the center of the holiday mess
Connect With Us - We’d love to support you on your foster care or adoption journey!
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast
• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast
• Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow
• Support the show: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support
• Music Credit: "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/